CN103228969A

CN103228969A - Marine mounting provided with a device for storing and guiding hoses

Info

Publication number: CN103228969A
Application number: CN2011800575569A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 雷蒙·阿洛; 塞德里克·布吕盖; 本杰明·莫列斯
Original assignee: Saipem SA
Current assignee: Saipem SA
Priority date: 2010-11-30
Filing date: 2011-11-24
Publication date: 2013-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 2031-11-24
Also published as: CN103228969B; BR112013012560A2; FR2968058A1; US20140301807A1; FR2968058B1; RU2013120142A; RU2570790C2; AU2011335204A1; BR112013012560B1; EP2646725B1; JP2014504227A; MY180266A; JP5632094B2; WO2012072497A1; KR20140074862A; KR101582393B1; AU2011335204B2; US9308972B2; EP2646725A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a support structure (1) installed at sea and provided with a device (4) for storing and guiding hoses (3, 3a-3b-3c), comprising: a first load-bearing structure (5) supporting a plurality of turntables (4-1) arranged one above the other, wherein hoses are wound or capable of being wound into concentric adjacent spirals having increasingly larger diameters and resting on said turntables; a rotary seal (7) connecting a first end (3-1), closer to the center of the turntable, of a hose pipe on said turntable, to an end (8-1) of a transfer pipe (8) which remains stationary while said turntable is rotated; and a plurality of guide means (10, 10a, 10b, 10c), capable of guiding portions (3-2) of said hoses on the outside (3-2) of said turntables that form a continuation of the remaining portions of the hoses resting on said turntable, such that said hose portions (3-2) exiting said turntables are rectilinearly arranged at different positions in a horizontal direction (Y1Y'1) parallel to said edge and at different heights, and such that the vertical axial planes P1, P2, P3, relative to said horizontal direction (Y1Y'1) parallel to said edge (1d), of said hose portions can have various angles (a1, a2, a3).

Description

Be provided with and be used to settle the also marine bearing of the equipment of guiding hose

Technical field

The present invention relates to be installed in the sea, promptly lay or anchor to the support in seabed respectively with ground connection or unsteady mode, be equipped with the equipment that is used to settle and guide flexible pipe on the surface of described support, this equipment is fit to settle and guide a plurality of (preferably at least three) to be used for the described flexible pipe of transfer oil fluid at sea.

Arrangement and the guiding device that is arranged on the flexible pipe on the support of the present invention is used for handling described flexible pipe, so that in the described flexible pipe between floating bracket and unloading ship, carry out settling flexible pipe with the winding state between twice FLUID TRANSPORTATION, and be used to launch described pipe, so that carry out described FLUID TRANSPORTATION between described floating bracket and described ship, described ship is preferably methane oil tanker type.

The technical field more specifically of using support of the present invention is the field of discharging oil fluid at sea, comprise very similar liquid crude oil or gasoline or liquid gas, LNG Liquefied natural gas (LNG) particularly, the gas that perhaps in fact is gaseous state, from described support (for example in the oil field) to the unloading ship that can be arranged side by side or lap siding is arranged, as described below.

The floating bracket that technical field of the present invention is afloat more specifically to have at least one LNG Liquefied natural gas (LNG) holding vessel is with lap siding or the ship (being preferably methane oil tanker type) of be arranged side by side (promptly along identical with described floating bracket vertical, or parallel with it) apart from floating bracket a distance between delivery temperature be in the field of-165 ℃ LNG.

Background technique

On the oil field of the far off-lying sea of offshore, on floating bracket, be recovered usually, handle and store such as petroleum fluids such as crude oil or rough gas, described floating bracket often is called as FPSO(floating production storage offloading).So such as (for example weekly) output termly of the unloaded ship of petroleum fluids such as crude oil and/or rough gas, to recover the production in oil field.For this purpose is used three technology usually.

First technology is away from FPSO place (for example about 1000 meters (m) are to the 1500m place) buoy to be installed, and this buoy is called as the loading buoy, and is connected to FPSO by subaqueous pipe, and oil or gas are transported to described loading buoy via described subaqueous pipe.So the unloading oil tanker is docked on the described loading buoy, via with float on the sea on the flexible steel in flat section tubing that is connected of described buoy and recover to load, so oil or gas are positioned at the pump driving on the FPSO, so that the loading and unloading oil tanker.

Second technology be make unloading oil tanker and FPSO side by side (that is, side by side) berth.In this case, both can pass through hinge loading arm (common in carry at the harbour) and carry out conveying, and also can carry out and carry by the short flexible pipe of length.

Three technology is to make unloading ship and FPSO lap siding in place, promptly unload ship and on the axis of FPSO, be positioned at least 50m to the safe distance place of 150m, moor then at this place, after this it recovers from the end of the unsteady pipe of floating bracket extension, they are connected to jar at the place, end opposite with its floating afloat end, the end of recovering is connected described unloading ship, so oil or gas are by the driving of the pump of FPSO, so that be loaded into the unloading oil tanker.

On the oil field, usually preferred the use loaded buoy, yet it is related with redundance unit usually, described redundance unit both can be that equipment is (promptly side by side, the equipment that unloading ship and FPSO are arranged side by side), also can be lap siding equipment (that is, the equipment of unloading ship and FPSO lap siding layout), sometimes or even these two kinds of equipment.

In possessive construction, the connecting tube that is connected with loading buoy or unloading ship remains full of crude oil (both can be full of crude oil, and also can be full of oil product, and be generally gasoline), and when existing crude oil to solidify the risk of (paraffine crude oil), described oil product substitutes crude oil.

By contrast, when conveying is in-165 ℃ the liquid gas of LNG type, conveying equipment comprises the connecting tube and return connecting tube (general diameter is less) from what jar was removed gas (being specifically used for removing methane gas) gradually when being full of LNG when the jar of unloading ship of advancing of at least one liquid gas, makes that it can liquefaction again on FPSO.In addition, after unloading, connecting flexible pipe need almost completely be emptied, and forms and accumulation ice to avoid on described pipe the mechanical connection portion of described pipe (more specifically).In addition, pipe need comprise extraordinary isolation, so that the amount of the liquid methane that is gasified again during the limit transport (LNG).For this reason, this is the Unloading Technology of why preferably using side by side with lap siding equipment, and wherein at first connecting tube is not a subaqueous pipe, but floats over the pipe on the sea, and secondly described pipe is shorter relatively.

Yet, the unusual difficulty of unloading side by side because can imagine, only under offshore conditions as mild as a dove, could take to the unloading ship parallel with FPSO and with its at a distance of less than the position of 5m.At sea have under the situation of stormy waves, conveying can become and can't carry out, and if FPSO fully loaded, then must make it stop to produce, this has just constituted the major defect of the earning capacity of the oilfield exploitation facility of being discussed.So feedway is formed by traditional loading arm or by having the equipment that is installed in the flexible pipe on the described FPSO.Patent EP-2 239 190 has described this unloading equipment side by side.

Lap siding unloads has bigger Security, but the unloading pipe is longer, therefore handles and settle comparatively complexity on FPSO.For this reason, developed the various device of on FPSO, settling and guide flexible pipe.Sizable bearing structure that some use hinges in them support a plurality of rigid pipes that comprise swivel joint is as articulated elements, as describing in detail among the patent US-4 393 906.

Other scheme comprises to be used and the hinged rigid pipe of swivel joint, perhaps is arranged on the suspension type flexible pipe between FPSO and the unloading ship, explains as patent WO01/04041.

Another technical field is that LNG at sea settles near the place to use, for example, in order to be sent to land after the gasification again at gas, perhaps even at the scene is converted to electric energy so that described electric energy is sent to local electrical network.In this case, ship has unloaded its LNG goods, and floating bracket is called as the unsteady regasification unit of settling of FSRU().

Summary of the invention

The unloading equipment that the purpose of this invention is to provide a kind of side by side improved or lap siding between support and unloading ship.

More specifically, the purpose of this invention is to provide the support that being equipped with of a kind of sea is used to support and guide the equipment of flexible pipe, this equipment makes the easier processing of described pipe, so that conveyance fluid between floating bracket and unloading ship, and so that between twice conveying described flexible pipe is being placed on the floating bracket.

Another problem that the present invention will solve provides a kind of equipment of settling and guiding described flexible pipe, make it can adjust tension force and length between described floating bracket and the described unloading ship in a controlled manner, interfere this arrangement and guiding device for a plurality of connecting tubes of avoiding extending between described floating bracket and the described unloading ship particularly.

For this reason, the present invention mainly comprises the support that is installed in the sea and is equipped with the equipment that is used to settle and guide flexible pipe, and this equipment comprises:

First bearing structure supports one and is positioned at a plurality of turntables of arranging on another;

Flexible pipe twines or is fit to be wound in concentric juxtaposed spiral ring on the end face that is placed in described turntable, that diameter increases;

The rotation universal shaft coupling, make earlier the most approaching and be wrapped in the turntable center of the flexible pipe on the described turntable and be fit to be driven and first end that rotates with described arrangement and guiding device, connect when described turntable is driven in rotation, keeping setting up between the end of static delivery pipe again, the end of described delivery pipe preferably with described support at least one first jar be communicated with; And

A plurality of guiding devices, be fit to the outer described flexible pipe of the described turntable of guiding with the continuous part of residue pipe portion that is placed on the described turntable, make the described pipe portion of leaving described turntable along the substantially horizontal Y that is parallel to described side ₁Y ' ₁Be arranged in the diverse location on the straight line,, and can make their vertical axis plane P 1, P2, P3 described substantially horizontal Y with respect to parallel described side at different heights ₁Y ' ₁Adopt different azimuth α 1, α 2, α 3.

More accurately, be equipped with on the surface of described support and settle and guiding device, in order to settle and guiding flexible pipe and be fit to settle and guide a plurality of described flexible pipes, at least three described flexible pipes wherein preferably, described arrangement and guiding device comprise:

First bearing structure is placed in or is fixed to the deck, vertical end wall of preferred described support of side of the approaching described support of described support, and described first bearing structure supports one and is positioned at a plurality of round turntables of arranging on another;

Each described turntable is fit to be centered on separate vertical central shaft ZZ ' by first motor driving in the mode with powered, preferably around identical vertical central shaft ZZ ' rotation, each turntable has the center port that is covered with center drum on the top, described flexible pipe can be against also being wound on the end face that is placed in described turntable around center drum, the concentric juxtaposed spiral ring that diameter increases, the center port of described turntable is equipped with the rotation universal shaft coupling, it is fit to earlier first end at the described center drum of the most approaching flexible pipe that twines around described flexible cylinder, between the end of fixed delivery pipe, set up again and connect, the end of described first pipe is fit to be driven in rotation with described turntable, and interior at least one first jar of the other end of described fixed delivery pipe and described support is communicated with; And

A plurality of guiding devices, each described guiding device be fit to the described pipe of guiding leave in each described turntable corresponding one, with the continuous part of tubular portion that is wrapped on the described turntable, make that leave the described pipe of each of each turntable portion is arranged to straight line, the substantially horizontal Y at the different heights place along parallel and described side ₁Y ' ₁Depart from diverse location, and the vertical axis plane that can make them is with respect to the described substantially horizontal Y that is parallel to described side ₁Y ' ₁Adopt different azimuth.

Can understand, stay the pipe portion correspondence and the continuous pipe portion of not twining of the last lap of the pipe that twines of turntable, especially true during winding or expansion.

This equipment of the present invention is to each pipe of staying turntable location and independent adjust them and specifically lead to length and/or tension force advantageous particularly between second end of second ship (be specially and unload ship) at described turntable and flexible pipe relative to each other, make and to avoid managing mutual interference or collision in fact mutually, especially true when expansion or entwining tube respectively before or after the described pipe that launches between described floating bracket and the described unloading ship.

Each flexible pipe diameter on being wrapped in each turntable is different and therefore need different windings or development rate so that keep and twine or when staying length constant substantially on the described turntable or tension force during deployment tube, and the independent rotation of adjusting each turntable is particularly useful and favourable.

This specifically is applied to carry the liquid gas of LNG type from floating bracket of the present invention to the unloading ship, another flexible pipe of while (general diameter is less) is used to carry back described floating boat with the gaseous form of the top gas (gas ceilings) of corresponding jar from described unloading ship, as explained below.

For ship (ship or floating bracket), term herein " side " is used to refer to any outer wall of the shell of ship, promptly not only refers to the sidewall of the longitudinal extension of hull, and also has the cross wall at its vertical end place, i.e. the fore wall of described ship and stern wall.

Term herein " flexible pipe " refers to the pipe that is also referred to as " flexible pipe ", " flexible pipe " is known in those skilled in the art and is described in the normative document of API (API) publication, more specifically with reference to API 17J and API RP 17B.This flexible pipe is by the concrete produce and market of French supplier Coflexip.This flexible pipe generally includes the inner sealant layer of the thermoplastic material that is associated with each layer that bears the pipe internal pressure, each layer that bears the pipe internal pressure made and is the form of the bar that twines the contact spiral ring in thermoplastic tube usually by steel or composite material, so that bear inner bursting pressure, and with the tubulose thermoplastic layer on externally reinforced being associated, and similarly be the form of the bar that twines with the contact ring spiral, but pitch is bigger, and promptly the inclination angle of spiral is less, particularly in 15 ° to 55 ° scope.

More specifically, at least one described flexible pipe is placed in concentric juxtaposed spiral ring on the described turntable, that diameter increases against also being wound in around described center drum, the radius of described center drum is greater than the minimum profile curvature radius of described flexible pipe, preferably at least three flexible pipes are wrapped in respectively at least three described turntables, comprise diameter at least one flexible pipe less than other flexible pipe.

Assembly comprises described arrangement and guiding device, described flexible pipe guides by described arrangement and guiding device, and under suitable situation, first and second connect valve devices constitutes from the equipment of afloat described support conveyance fluid is installed, and preferably is transported to described ship.

The present invention also provides the method for the petroleum fluids of delivering liquid or gaseous state, wherein said petroleum fluids is transferred via two flexible pipes that extend between described support of the present invention and the ship (preferably at least three flexible pipes) at least, described ship be preferably methane oil tanker type and contiguous described floating bracket side by side or lap siding arrange and that towards described side described flexible pipe is directed by described arrangement and guiding device.

In first embodiment, described conveying comprises liquid gas is unloaded to from described support and is called as the described ship that unloads ship.

In a second embodiment, described conveying comprises liquid gas is loaded into described support from the described ship that is called as supply vessel.Usually, this comprises and is loaded in the liquid gas that is gasified again in the described support, so that be transported to land with gaseous form, or so that is used for generating.In this case, described floating bracket also can comprise with the unit of described gas generating and the electric substation that landwards send electricity.In this case, described support is advantageously at the support of seabed ground connection.

Advantageously, in delivery method of the present invention, described flexible pipe is the lip-deep unsteady pipe that swims in the part distance between described support and the described ship, and described ship is preferably methane oil tanker type.

Again more specifically, in delivery method of the present invention, use at least one flexible pipe, " first " flexible pipe, and preferably use at least two flexible pipes, " first " and " second " flexible pipe, liquid gas is carried between described floating bracket and described ship at least one second jar in described flexible pipe, described ship is preferably methane oil tanker formula, and the 3rd flexible pipe, preferred diameter is less than the diameter of described first flexible pipe and second flexible pipe, in the 3rd flexible pipe, the gas of corresponding second jar top gas is carried between described second jar of first jar of arriving in the described floating bracket, perhaps is being transported to the liquefaction unit that was transported to before described first jar on the described support.

Particularly, when described methane oil tanker is that unloading ship and described liquid gas are discharged into described unloading ship time from described floating bracket, be filled along with described second jar in the described unloading ship, gas turns back to described floating bracket from described unloading ship.

More specifically, in floating bracket of the present invention, each guiding device is arranged on corresponding one the different heights place towards each described turntable, so that be fit to support the other cardinal principle vertical position in described side described pipe downstream portion and leave bent intermediate pipe portion between the continuous described upstream tube portion of pipe portion on the turntable and that be placed in the winding on the described turntable, the described upstream tube portion of leaving turntable extends on imaginary plane P, described imaginary plane P is surperficial tangent with the end face of described turntable basically, the pipe of described winding is wrapped on the described turntable, and each downstream tube portion of the cardinal principle vertical position that described side is other is arranged on along the described direction Y that is parallel to the described side of leaving described pulley ₂Y ' ₂The position of relative to each other departing from.

More specifically, each described guiding device comprises pulley, and described pulley is mounted to the first rotating shaft Y around level ₁Y ' ₁Rotation, described pulley also are fit to center on the vertical second rotating shaft Z that extends along the diameter of pulley ₁Z ' ₁Rotate, preferably freely rotate, center on each first pulley that described first rotating shaft rotates and preferably be subjected to second Electric Machine Control and rotate, preferably control with described first motor synchronous of each described turntable.

Therefore, because described pulley centers on its second vertical rotating shaft Z ₁Z ' ₁Rotate freely and described pulley around the first rotating shaft Y of its level ₁Y ' ₁Synchronous machine drives rotation, can forever remain among the cardinal principle vertical plane P1 identical, P2, the P3 by the intervalve portion of the described bending of described pulley support with the described upstream tube portion of leaving turntable, each plane P 1, P2, P3 are with respect to described direction Y ₁Y ' ₁Be directed at different amount α 1, α 2, α 3 places so that arrive described turntable, described turntable with its on last several circles of twining pipe the end continuously and tangent the alignment, circumference of cannon bone can suitably be reeled when described center drum twines or launch gradually.

Can understand, this vertical axis plane P 1, P2, P3 are public cardinal principle vertical plane, the upstream of pipe and intermediate portion are in described vertical plane, yet in contrast, being arranged in substantially, the axial plane of the downstream tube portion of vertical position may not be positioned at identical vertical plane.

In the variant embodiment of floating bracket of the present invention, described guiding device only is made up of skewed slot.

More specifically, each pulley is arranged in different heights along the substantially horizontal that is parallel to described side with departing from side by side relative to each other, and the top of each pulley preferably is oriented to substantially with the same high with the tangent plane P of the end face of described turntable.

Can understand, described side each downstream tube portion other, that be in the cardinal principle vertical position is therefore along described direction Y ₁Y ' ₁Be arranged in juxtaposition described direction Y ₁Y ' ₁Be parallel to described side in the outlet port of described pulley, each pulley preferably can be with respect to the described part adjustment height of described second bearing structure that is fastened to described side.

Again more specifically, each pulley is supported by second bearing structure, and it is outer also along the described substantially horizontal Y that is parallel to described side that described second bearing structure is arranged on described floating bracket ₁Y ' ₁Be fastened to common side at coordination place not, each pulley is mounted to respect to the part of described second bearing structure that is fastened to described side and around the described vertical second rotating shaft Z ₁Z ' ₁Rotation.

Also more specifically, each described turntable comprises wheel or cooperates with wheel at its lower surface, the described wheel is fit to cooperate with the element of described bearing structure or supported respectively by it, and each described turntable comprises the bearing that is positioned at described center port place, and described bearing fixing is to described bearing structure and be fit to make described turntable to rotate with respect to described first bearing structure.

In variant embodiment, described turntable can make:

At least one described turntable has the end face of horizontal plane;

At least one described turntable has the end face of the frusto-conical of spill, and the angle γ at place, summit is preferably in 160 ° to 178 ° scope; And

At least one described turntable has the end face of the frusto-conical of convex, and the angle γ at place, summit is preferably in 160 ° to 178 ° scope.

The frustum of a cone of this paper use term " spill " or " convex " be meant the virtual vertex of described circular cone be positioned under the described surface of frusto-conical or respectively on.Can understand, be positioned at 1 ° to 10 ° scope with respect to the cone angle alpha of level.

As described below, when pipe was placed and be wrapped in described turntable, the turntable of the frusto-conical of spill or convex was particularly useful to the residue in the flexible pipe that cleans full of liquid (liquid gas particularly).

According to another advantageous feature of support of the present invention, second end of described flexible pipe connects valve device by first and links together, and it comprises:

Another advantageous feature according to support of the present invention, that described support is equipped with is a plurality of (n) flexible pipe, described first end of each flexible pipe is cooperated with corresponding described turntable, second end of described flexible pipe is connected valve device by first and links together, first connects the first pipe portion that valve device has n preferred rigidity, the described first pipe portion remains on the fixed position of preferred parallel relative to each other, and n is not less than 3 integer, and each described first pipe portion comprises:

Be positioned at the first pipe linkage member of first end, be preferably the protuberance or the recess of automatic coupler;

Be positioned at second linkage member of its second end, be preferably flange, be assembled into second end of described flexible pipe;

Comprise n-1 branch's joint between the two ends of each described first pipe portion, make its can with n-1 other described first rigid pipe portion in corresponding one be communicated with, each described branch joint comprises first connecting valve;

First connects valve, between described first linkage member and described branch joint;

The described first pipe portion is fixed to first rigid support, preferably by the first rigid support keeping parallelism; And

Described first connecting valve is preferably butterfly valve, and described first connects valve is preferably ball valve.

Can understand, between described first linkage member and described branch joint each be first when being connected valve and being adapted at valve and opening or closing respectively, allows or prevent that fluid from flowing to described first linkage member or flow out from described first linkage member in the described first pipe portion.

Another preferred characteristics according to support of the present invention, described flexible pipe extends between described support and ship (being preferably methane oil tanker type) or is fit to and extends, the contiguous described side of described ship side by side or lap siding arrange, and described first connects valve device is connected to the second connection valve device, described second connects the valve device setting or is fit to be arranged on the ship that is preferably methane oil tanker type, and described second connects valve device comprises:

The second pipe portion of n preferred rigidity;

One end of each described second pipe portion is communicated with described second jar, its the other end comprises the first complementary pipe linkage member, the described first complementary linkage member is adapted at cooperating with described first linkage member in the reversible coupling, and the described first complementary linkage member preferably is respectively the automatic coupler portion of convex or spill;

The described second pipe portion remains on the fixed position of preferred parallel relative to each other, so that the described first complementary linkage member can be connected with described first linkage member;

Each described second pipe portion has second and connects valve, when it is adapted at opening or closing respectively, allows or prevents that fluid from flowing to the described first complementary linkage member or flow out from the described first complementary linkage member in the described second pipe portion;

The described second pipe portion is fixed to second rigid support, is preferably remained parallel to each other by second rigid support; And

Described second connects valve is preferably ball valve.

Realize almost completely cleaning particularly useful and favourable before more than the support of Xian Dinging is rewinded on its turntable for flexible pipe, avoid described flexible pipe to be subjected to any damage thus and their easier quilts are rewinded on its described turntable.

Therefore the present invention also provides described flexible pipe to be equipped with as first method of the present invention that connects valve device as described in the above qualification, the described first connection valve device is connected to as second of above qualification and connects valve device, described flexible pipe is preferably unsteady flexible pipe, between described support and described ship (described ship is preferably the methane oil tanker), carry after the described petroleum liquid fluid, be used to be cleaned by carrying out following consecutive steps from the described flexible pipe of described support to described unloading ship delivering liquid fluid (being preferably the LNG liquid gas):

A. close described first and second and connect valve, and make the described first and second connection valve devices break away from connection each other;

B. from described support injecting gas to first end of first flexible pipe, and open and be assembled into identical described first and connect described first flexible pipe of valve device and at least one described first connecting valve between second flexible pipe, other described first connecting valve is closed; Then

C. when described first the pipe fully emptying, when preferred general is emptied completely, close described first connecting valve between described first and second flexible pipe.

When the internal volume of the described pipe of filling residual fluid be no more than described pipe total internal volume 10%, when preferably being no more than 5%, be internal volume at least 90% be empty, preferred at least 95% be empty, when more preferably total internal volume of at least 98% is empty, just think " fully " emptying.

Therefore, this method can be via the contents of described first flexible pipe of the described second flexible pipe emptying, make thus its can be after step c) described first flexible pipe of emptying substantially or virtually completely.By contrast, even when the internal volume of described first pipe is emptied completely, the internal volume of described second pipe can still stay cardinal principle at least 10% also may be up to 15% not emptying.

After step c), be emptied completely second flexible pipe difficulty especially, because being retained to small part with sea level and its substantially near the corresponding end of the cardinal principle vertical portion between the horizontal plane of the turntable of cooperating with it after step c) and being full of fluid of second flexible pipe is because two-phase fluid moves up when gravity is tending towards making it fall back to the sea level naturally.

Preferably, in delivery method of the present invention, after step c), described second pipe is cleaned fully by carrying out following consecutive steps:

D. gas is injected described first end of described second pipe from support, and open described second the pipe and diameter less than described first connecting valve between the 3rd flexible pipe of described second pipe, make purge gas flow velocity, be that the speed of described gas is greater than 1.5 metre per second (m/s)s (m/s), be preferably more than 3m/s, more preferably greater than 5m/s, described other first connecting valve is closed; And

E. when described second the pipe abundant emptying after, more preferably be emptied completely substantially after, close described second the pipe and the 3rd pipe between described first connecting valve.

Can understand, in this embodiment, the internal volume of the liquid that comprises in second pipe is removed fully via described the 3rd pipe.In case described second pipe is emptied completely substantially, after step e), the diameter of described the 3rd pipe helps being emptied completely described the 3rd pipe than the young pathbreaker, and the cardinal principle vertical portion between the inlet on sea level and the corresponding turntable is especially true.Execution in step is a) to e) combination so that emptying first pipe, second pipe and the 3rd these three kinds of all pipes of pipe are particularly advantageous.

Again more specifically, when all described flexible pipes are fully cleaned, described flexible pipe is wrapped on its described turntable again, be positioned on the water surface up to second end of described flexible pipe, preferred described first connect valve device be positioned at the bottom turntable of cooperating with one of described flexible pipe under.

Can understand, when expectation is twined described flexible pipe again, the described first valve connection device keeps for good and all being fastened to described second end of cooperating with it of all described first flexible pipes, and described first connects valve device remains on the water surface, preferably the height of close nethermost turntable.

Equally advantageously, described first pipe is wrapped on the described turntable of aforesaid convex.

Again more specifically, be used for carrying at least one of described second pipe of liquid and the 3rd pipe, described second pipe and the 3rd that is preferred for delivering liquid to manage both and be wrapped in the described frustum of a cone turntable of aforesaid spill.

Therefore can understand, when pipe was wound, any residual liquid in described second pipe and the 3rd pipe can flow to jar by described bottom first end via described pipe under the effect of the natural gravity of residue.

Description of drawings

According to illustrating as non-limiting example and with reference to the following detailed description of accompanying drawing, other characteristic of the present invention and advantage become more obvious, wherein:

Figure 1A is in so-called " lap siding " FPSO type floating bracket 1,1-1 structure, that be used to produce and store LNG to be unloaded to the side view of ship time, ship herein refers to methane oil tanker type unloading ship 2, and FPSO is equipped with flexible pipe of the present invention and settles and guiding device 4;

Figure 1B be in " lap siding " structure, connect seabed 21 and comprise vaporization again and generator unit 1d and the FSRU type support 1,1-2 that landwards send the electric substation of electricity at the side view when methane oil tanker type ship (being called as supply vessel) unload, described floating bracket is equipped with flexible pipe of the present invention and settles and guiding device 4;

Fig. 1 C is in to be called as the side view of FPSO type floating bracket 1-1 when being unloaded to methane oil tanker type unloading ship 2 " side by side " structure, that be used to produce and store LNG, and FPSO is equipped with flexible pipe of the present invention and settles and guiding device 4;

Fig. 1 D is the side view of floating bracket, and wherein said flexible pipe rewinds on arrangement and the guiding device 4 by the described first connection device 13-1 on the water;

Fig. 2 illustrates the arrangement of the present invention with three stacked turntable 4-1 and the side partial sectional view of guiding device 4, but Fig. 2 only illustrates the single flexible pipe guiding arrangement 10 that has towards the pulley of center turntable, makes it possible to be more clearly visible the various elements of forming described guiding device;

Fig. 3 is the arrangement of Fig. 2 and the plan view that guiding device is equipped with three guiding device 10-1a, 10-1b and 10-1c, described three guiding devices along with they fastened parallel substantially horizontal Y of side 1d ₁Y ' ₁Depart from each other; Shown described top turntable 4-1a does not have the pipe portion continuous, that common spiral thereon twines with the 3-2 of pipe portion that leaves turntable, so that the various possible angle orientation of the 3-2 of pipe portion that leaves turntable is shown;

Fig. 3 A is the plan view of the turntable of Fig. 3, and this equipment has the flexible pipe portion 3 of the spiral winding that illustrates thereon, and pulley 10-1 is shown as along the AA ' of Fig. 2 and cuts open;

Fig. 4 A, 4B and 4C are that end face is recessed frusto-conical (Fig. 4 A), is the frusto-conical (Fig. 4 B) of protrusion or is the side view of the turntable of plane shape (Fig. 4), flexible pipe be spirally wound on the turntable and in the outlet port of described arrangement turntable around guiding device 10 bendings;

Fig. 5 A is the plan view that is connected valve device 13-1 of one group of three flexible pipe with 5B, comprise the first connection valve device 13-1 at the place, end that is connected to the second connection device 13-2 that is positioned at three flexible pipes, the described second connection device 13-2 is arranged on the unloading ship 2 (Fig. 5 A); Described first connects valve device 13-1 is connected valve device 13-2 disengaging connection with second, so that clean described pipe (Fig. 5 B);

Fig. 6 illustrates described first to connect sectional view valve device, that cut open along the BB of Fig. 5 A;

Fig. 7 A, 7B, 7C and 7D make fluid flow between flexible pipe so that clean the schematic representation of the various possible configurations of described flexible pipe when the first various valves that connect valve device 13-1 cut out; And

Fig. 8 A and 8B are illustrated in flexible pipe 3b, the 3c(Fig. 8 A that is used for carrying to unloading ship 2 from the convex turntable LNG when cleaning described pipe), and being used to of cooperating when being cleaned (Fig. 8 B), with the spill turntable flexible pipe 3a that gas is returned.

Embodiment

Figure 1A is the side view of floating bracket 1 of the FPSO type 1-1 of the present invention in the aerogenesis field of anchoring 1a in off-lying sea.

Described FPSO has that first jar 11 of being used to store LNG in being combined in hull handled and the equipment 1b of liquid gas.

Methane oil tanker type unloading ship 2 is positioned to roughly file on the axle of described FPSO, and be connected to described FPSO by one group of three flexible pipe 3A, 3B and 3C, flexible pipe settles and guides the arrangement of the present invention of flexible pipe 3 and guiding device 4 to handle by being used to, and this equipment is described in more detail following.

Described flexible pipe 3 is unsteady flexible pipe types of being made and sold by French supplier Trelleborg, and it mainly is made up of together with thermoplastic materials or vulcanized elastomer metal or composite reinforcing material.

This pipe that is used to unload transportation of liquefied gas has the internal diameter of 250mm to the 600mm scope usually, and 400mm is to the external diameter of 1000mm scope.Length manufacturing that their usually press 12m, and fit together via the end that is equipped with flange, so that obtain to arrive the length of 250m scope at 120m.In an identical manner, return between unloading ship 2 and floating bracket 1 by mode described below and to carry the pipe of the gas that is gaseous state to have identical total length, but advantageously diameter is less, its internal diameter is in 150mm arrives the scope of 400mm.

In some cases, the preferred gas recurrent canal is identical with the LNG delivery pipe, is favourable for the deposit replacement part thus, because all elements are identical.

Fig. 2 is the side partial sectional view that is used to settle and guide the equipment 4 of flexible pipe 3.Arrangement equipment is arranged in a plurality of (this example is three) turntable 4-1 of arranging on another, one by one and is positioned at turntable 4a, the 4b, the 4c that arrange on another and forms, and is preferably placed on the common vertical rotating shaft ZZ '.

Three turntable 4-1 are supported by first bearing structure 5, first bearing structure 5 be placed in floating bracket 1 close side 1d's and be positioned on the deck 1c at one vertical end place.

As shown in Figure 3, first bearing structure 5 in this example has eight vertical posts 5b, vertical posts 5b is linked together by the first horizontal beam 5c and the second horizontal beam 5a, the described first horizontal beam 5c is in different heights, and the described second horizontal beam 5a is arranged between the radially relative vertical posts 5b radially and radially.Described horizontal beam 5a constitutes the horizontal bearing structure that is in three different heights, and each is fit to support one of three turntable 4-1.

Heart place therein, each described turntable has for example ball bearing of aperture 4-2 and bearing 4-4(), described bearing part is fixed to described horizontal bearing structure 5a, and described turntable can be rotated around central rotating shaft ZZ ' with wheel 4-5 by first motor 6 described below.

The bottom surface of each turntable 4-1 is supported at its periphery place by one group of wheel 4-5, and wheel 4-5 preferably evenly distributes around its periphery, and the supporting element 4-5a of the described 4-5 of wheel is fixed to described horizontal bearing structure 5a.

Each turntable 4-1 is configured to by first motor 6 and around its vertical axis ZZ ' rotation, described first motor 6 is preferably hydraulic electric motor, its output shaft to the gear that carrying is cooperated with the gear 6-1 that is fixed to described turntable 4-1 applies rotary driving force, when described output shaft is driven in rotation self, drive described turntable rotation thus.

Center drum 4-3 is arranged on the top of the described aperture 4-2 of each described turntable.The external diameter of described center drum 4-3 is greater than the minimum profile curvature radius of described flexible pipe, and described flexible pipe is wound by the concentric contact spiral ring that is placed in side by side on the described turntable.Described center drum 4-3 is fixed to described turntable 4-1.

As shown in Figure 4, well known to a person skilled in the art that rotation universal shaft coupling 7 is installed on the axle ZZ ' of each described turntable 4-1.

It is made up of the swivel joint 7-1 that the top is equipped with top elbow 7-2, and the end of top elbow 7-2 is against the wall of described center drum 4-3.The mode that leakproof is sentenced at 7a in the end of top elbow 7-2 is connected to the first end 3-1 of flexible pipe 3, when described turntable 4-1 is driven in rotation, flexible pipe against and twine around described center drum 4-3 spiral.The base section of swivel joint 7-1 comprises bottom 7-3, and described bottom 7-3 keeps static when described top elbow 7-2 is driven in rotation because of the rotation of described turntable 4-1.Bottom elbow 7-3 self is connected to the end 8-1 of delivery pipe 8 in the mode of leakproof, the other end of delivery pipe 8 is connected to first jar 11 of FPSO1, make thus from described first jar 11 LNG and can be brought to FPSO1, perhaps be connected to the liquefaction unit again on the FPSO, make gas return described liquefaction unit more thus from described unloading ship 2.

All various delivery pipes 8 all pass through the respective center aperture 4-2 of each turntable 4-1.

Each

flexible pipe

3,3a-3b-3c only illustrate one of them guiding device 10 by guiding device 10 guiding among Fig. 2, each guiding device 10 comprises pulley 10-1, and described pulley 10-1 is arranged in the cardinal principle vertical axis plane and is fit to the first rotating shaft Y of the level that centers on ₁Y ' ₁Fast rotational.

The radius of pulley 10-1 is greater than the minimum profile curvature radius around described pulley winding of described flexible pipe 3.

Described pulley 10-1,10-1a, 10-1b, 10-1c near and in the described turntable 4-1 corresponding one and be provided with, make the peak of the groove on each described pulley be positioned at the height of imaginary plane P substantially, this imaginary plane P and end face 4-1a are tangent, and the 3-2 of pipe portion that leaves described turntable is placed on the imaginary plane P.

In other words, it is tangent to constitute the peak of groove of bus (generator line) and described pulley of surface of revolution of end face 4-1a of described round turntable 4-1.

Like this, during described turntable 4-1 rotation, and at described pulley 10-1 around its horizontal axis X ₁X ' ₁During the rotation, twine and launch the operation period of described pipe, the 3-2(of flexible pipe portion that leaves described turntable 4-1 promptly, with the continuous pipe portion of last lap of twining on the described turntable 4-1) guided more accurately.

Each pulley 10-1 all is fixed to the second bearing structure 10-1, and described second bearing structure comprises vertical supporting element 10-3, and the top of described vertical supporting element 10-3 ends at the fork structure of support level hub, and described horizontal hub is arranged on the first rotating shaft Y ₁Y ' ₁On, the pulley 10-1a of Fig. 3 is around the first rotating shaft Y ₁Y ' ₁Rotation, described vertical supporting element 10-3 is hinged at the top of fixed pylon 10-4 and centers on the vertical second rotating shaft Z ₁Z ' ₁Rotation, fixed pylon 10-4 is placed on the structure 10-5, and described structure 10-5 self is fixed to the described side 1d of the hull of FPSO1.Because described vertical supporting element 10-3 can be hinged to around its vertical axis Z ₁Z ' ₁Rotate freely, so described pulley 10-1 is fit to around the described vertical second rotating shaft Z ₁Z ' ₁Rotation.

In addition, the vertical supporting element 10-3 that supports pulley 10-1 is fit to vertical moving, so as the top of adjusting pulley with respect to the position on the tangent plane of the end face of turntable 4-1, it is arranged on the front portion of turntable 4-1.

As shown in Figure 3, along with the last point of contact that is wrapped in the last lap pipe on the described turntable moves apart turntable center between two break point O and the M, around the second rotating shaft Z of described pulley 10-1 ₁Z ' ₁This rotation takes place gradually, and O is near the point (pipe launches fully) of cylinder 4-3, and M be near the point (pipe is winding fully) of the periphery of turntable, as shown in Figure 3.

Still in Fig. 3, three pulley 10-1:10-1a, 10-1b and 10-1c are along the substantially horizontal Y that is parallel to side 1d ₁Y ' ₁Depart from each other.In addition, cardinal principle vertical axis plane P 1, P2 and the P3 of three pulley 10-1a, 10-1b and 10-1c are respectively with respect to described direction Y ₁Y ' ₁Have variable azimuth angle alpha 1, α 2 and α 3.Described cardinal principle vertical axis plane P 1, P2 and the P3 of three pulleys can rotate corresponding angle beta respectively around described second rotating shaft ₁, β ₂And β ₃, described angle beta ₁, β ₂And β ₃Down between the column position:

First restriction site, wherein the described pipe 3-2 of portion that leaves described turntable 4-1 through the inlet of described pulley 10-1 and the periphery place of described turntable 4-1 last twine one enclose the same high at the M place; And

Make second restriction site of each pulley 10-1 rotation, the 3-2 of pipe portion that wherein leaves turntable flushes with some O, and described some O is corresponding to the position of the close center drum 4-3 of end 3-1 of described first flexible pipe.

Described axial plane P1, the P2 of three pulleys and P3 are also corresponding to the cardinal principle vertical axis plane of three upstream tube portions of extending between each described turntable and each described pulley respectively.

Each pulley 10-1 preferably is preferably hydraulic electric motor by the second motor 10-6() motor type drives, described second motor be fixed to having the ring gear (not shown) to cooperate and each described pulley 10-1 can be driven and center on the described first rotating shaft Y of its oneself level of described pulley ₁Y ' ₁Rotation.

Various pulley 10-1 be set at corresponding on the different height of the height of the described turntable 4-1 of its service, and described pulley 10-1 is with offset direction Y ₁Y ' ₁Mode be set up in parallel, no matter angle of rotation α 1, the α 2 of each among three pulley 10-1a, 10-1b, the 10-1c and α 3 are how, the risk that does not all have described pulley to interfere with each other.

As shown in Figure 2, the crooked intermediate portion 3-3 that centers on the flexible pipe 3 of pulley 10-1 bending has followed the corresponding downstream tube 3-4 of portion closely, the described downstream tube 3-4 of portion is positioned at and arrives sea level 20 vertical position substantially, and canal float is on described sea level, and the appropriate section 3-5 of its length is towards ship 2.

As shown in Figure 3, the vertical downstream portion 3-4 offset direction Y of each

pipe portion

3,3a, 3b, 3c ₁Y ' ₁, but they still are positioned at the vertical and parallel substantially axial plane of cardinal principle, center on its second rotating shaft Z regardless of described pulley 10-1a, 10-1b, 10-1c ₁Z ' ₁How to rotate.

In Fig. 1 C, can see that methane oil tanker 2 is arranged side by side the modification enforcement in floating bracket 1, its corresponding vertical side that floating bracket 1-1 in this enforcement and ship 2 extend along their vertical XX ' is parallel and be set up in parallel, and the flexible pipe 3 that the equipment on the support 1-2 4 is connected to ship 2 is positioned on the sea level 20.More specifically, flexible pipe 3 is taked the stretched wire linear configuration on sea level 20, extends to public valve device 13 on the unloading methane oil tanker ship 2 from the outlet of the same high pulley 10-1 with the arrangement of floating bracket 1 and guiding device 4.

As example, turntable 4-1 has the diameter of about 20m.The height of arrangement equipment 4 (that is, the height of each post 5b) is about 15m to 20m, and three turntable 4-1 are each other along vertically separating 4m to 5m.The diameter of center drum 4-3 is typically in 5m arrives the scope of 8m.

This equipment 4 be particularly suitable for admitting diameter 120mm in the 600mm scope, length is at the flexible pipe of 120m in the 250m scope.

Each described turntable 4-1 can be configured to be independent of other turntable and rotate around its axis ZZ '.Same situation also is applied to drive described pulley 10-1 and carries out the described motor that rotatablely moves around their first rotating shaft.Therefore any other flexible pipe be can be independent of and tension force and the length of each described

flexible pipe

3a, 3b and 3c adjusted, make described flexible pipe between the vertical portion 3-4 in the outlet port of pulley 10-1 and public valve device 13, extend, this public valve device 13(is also referred to as and connects cleaning equipment) be positioned on the unloading ship 2 and each second end of each

flexible pipe

3a, 3b and 3c all is connected to public valve device 13, the tension force of described pipe and length are adjusted in all windings of described flexible pipe and launch to equate substantially all the time in the operation.In general, because the corresponding diameter of each described flexible pipe can be different, so each described

flexible pipe

3a, 3b need the revolution of turntable rotation different with 3c, so that each flexible pipe is all settled identical length.

In case pipe is rewinded to their corresponding turntable 4-1, then advantageously use the turntable of end face 1a as the shape in the form of a truncated cone of concave surface 4-1b or convex surface 4-1c, respectively shown in Fig. 4 A and 4B, be used for carrying the remaining LNG of LNG in the described entwining tube of methane oil tanker 2 so that clean fully from floating bracket 1, and as described below like that during cleaning according to the service condition of described pipe.

The diameter of

flexible pipe

3b, 3c that the LNG that stores in first jar 11 of support 1 is transported to ship 2 is very big, so that optimization is carried the speed of LNG, yet the gas that returns can use single pipe (pipe that general diameter is less) to transport, because the loss of pressure head of gas is more much smaller than LNG.

Should wander back to, LNG mainly is made up of the liquid methane that is in-165 ℃, and the unloading ship is made up of the methane oil tanker, promptly is made up of the ship of the canned LNG of transportation, and when jar when being vacant, in fact it be full of gaseous methane, may also have some nitrogen that gasify again from LNG.The using gases recurrent canal at first is in order progressively to remove the gas of second tank top when being filled from first jar LNG for second jar, secondly becomes the LNG of gasification again in order to remove when the transportation because of relatively-high temperature.In case gas has returned support 1, then it liquefies again and becomes LNG.

Next will describe and connect valve device 13 and the cleaning method of flexible pipe before the turntable that is wrapped in them again.This cleaning at first needs flexible pipe is lightened, and their are twined again easilier, but also to avoid described flexible pipe when being wrapped in described turntable again, to be damaged, overweight appearance when this damage meeting is filled liquid because of pipe, also can occur because of seawater icing takes place on the surface of pipe or the connecting element.

Fig. 5 A, Fig. 5 B comprise with the valve device 13 that is connected shown in Fig. 6:

A) the first valve connection device 13-1 is arranged on the end of described

flexible pipe

3a, 3b, 3c, and comprises:

I. three first 21a of rigid pipe portion, 21b and 21c, they remain on position of rest and parallel relative to each other; And

Ii. each described first 21a of rigid pipe portion, 21b and 21c comprise:

Be positioned at the first pipe linkage member 23-1a, 23-1b, the 23-1c of first end, form by the protuberance or the recess of automatic coupler;

Be positioned at the assembling flange 31 of its second end 3-6, be assembled into corresponding

flexible pipe

3a, 3b, the described second end 3-6 of 3c;

Between the two ends of each described first rigid pipe portion, each described first rigid pipe portion has two connected component's links 30, each has the first connecting valve 30ab, 30ac, 30bc, and described branch link 30 all can be communicated with each described first rigid pipe portion with one of two first rigid pipe portions in addition of described equipment 13-1; And

First connects

valve

22a, 22b, 22c, between the described branch link 30 of described first end of the described first linkage member 23-1a, 23-1b, 23-1c and the most approaching described first equipment 13-1; And

B) second connects valve device 13-2, is arranged on the described unloading ship 2, and comprises:

Three second 26a of rigid pipe portion, 26b, 26c, they remain on position of rest and parallel relative to each other;

Described second jar 12 of the wherein end of each described second 26a of rigid pipe portion, 26b, 26c and ship 2 is communicated with, and the other end has the first complementary pipe linkage member 23-2a, 23-2b, 23-2c, the described first complementary linkage member by the recess of automatic coupler and/or protuberance (promptly, the part of concrete and 23 complementations of described first linkage member) forms respectively, so that described first equipment 13-1 and the described second equipment 13-2 are linked together; And

Each described second rigid pipe portion comprises that also second connects

valve

27a, 27b, 27c.The described first rigid pipe portion is kept together with the assembling mode that is parallel to each other by first rigid support 24, and they are fixed to first rigid support 24 at 24a, 24b and 24c place.Similarly, described second 26a of rigid pipe portion, 26b, 26c are kept together with the assembling mode that is parallel to each other by second rigid support 25, and they are fixed to second rigid support 25 at 25a, 25b and 25c place.

Advantageously, various valves are ball valve or butterfly valve.

Because described first linkage member is firmly held in together with constant each other distance by described first support 24, they are fixed to first support 24 at 24a, 24b and 24c place, and because the described first complementary linkage member equally at first is held with constant each other distance, described distance equals the distance between described first linkage member, so the described first equipment 13-1 and the second equipment 13-2 can link together automatically by the actuator (not shown) of telecontrol, this can be undertaken by single order.

Fig. 5 B is the plan view near the connector during the stage that illustrates before connecting, and all

valve

22a, 22b and the 22c of equipment 13-1 and 13-2 close.

In Fig. 5 A, automatic coupler 23-1/23-2 locks with leak-proof manner, valve 22a-22b-22c and valve 27a-27b-27c are shown in an open position, therefore allow LNG process from left to right among two

pipe

3b, 3c, and allow methane gas from the center tube 3a of unloading ship 2 to FPSO1, along from right to left Return-ing direction process from support 4 to unloading ship 2.

Fig. 5 A-5B, Fig. 7 A-7B-7C-7D and Fig. 8 A-8B clearly explain in order to reference, and the conveying of LNG is represented by double-lined arrow, and the conveying of gas is represented by the single line arrow, and the length and the flow velocity in the respective tube of this arrow are proportional.

The first valve device 13-1 is provided with the 3rd group of connecting valve between described first 21a-21b-21c of pipe portion, and they are arranged as follows:

Valve 30ac links together first 21a of pipe portion, 21c;

Valve 30ab links together first 21a of pipe portion, 21b; And

Valve 30bc links together first 21b of pipe portion, 21c.

Transporting from the operation period that unloads the LNG of ship 2, described three valve 30ab, 30ac and 30bc are in the closed position, shown in Fig. 5 A.

In order to make

flexible pipe

3a, 3b, 3c can not swim in the sea between twice LNG carries, this may represent to continue some weeks, and flexible pipe is wrapped on the turntable 4-1 again, preferably after they clean as follows:

Being positioned at the valve 22a-22b-22c of the first public valve device 13-1 on the floating boat 2 and

valve

27a, 27b, the 27c of the second public valve device 13-2 all closes; Then

The described linkage member 23 of the first valve device 13-1 and the second valve device 13-2 breaks away from and is connected; Then

Flexible pipe

3a, 3b, 3c are released together with their first connection device 13, so flexible pipe swims on the water surface 20; Subsequently

Open with the connecting valve 30bc between two first 21b of rigid pipe portion, the 21c that

flexible pipe

3b, 3c that Fig. 7 A illustrates respectively are communicated with; Then

First pipe, for example manage 3b and be pressurized to pressure P by gas (being generally the mixture of methane or nitrogen and methane), so that can promote LNG from FPSO1;

Air pressure promotes the LNG in the described pipe 3b, and along with LNG rises towards FPSO via the second pipe 3c, the separating plane between liquid phase and the gas phase moves down in described pipe 3b gradually.In case described separating plane arrives the 3-5 of pipe portion on sea level, so flexible pipe 3b is level substantially, gas continues to promote, so but two-phase mixture under the pressure of advancing, form towards the first valve device 13-1, pass through described valve 30bc then, and return towards FPSO via flexible pipe 3c.Two-phase mixture has the bubble of minor diameter at the level height place on sea, but as long as they arrive the vertical portion 3-4 of described pipe 3c, suppose that hydrostatic pressure is reducing when FPSO rises, then bubble becomes big, the bulk density of mixture reduces, the two-phase of Shang Shenging is listed as corresponding acceleration thus, and therefore improves carrying under one's arms of liquid phase; Then

As the horizontal part 3-5 of two

flexible pipe

3b and 3c during by the cardinal principle emptying, promptly substantially during gassy, the flow velocity from the gas of FPSO of pipe among the 3b quickens, so that greatly increase the disturbance of two phase flow among the cardinal principle vertical portion 3-4 of the second pipe 3c, have the effect that the best is carried under one's arms the LNG particle thus, therefore realize

pipe

3b and 3c internal volume at least 85%, in fact 85% to 95%.

More specifically, and as generic principles, when the liquid in staying pipe 3c occupied 10% to 20% the internal volume of pipe 3c, pipe 3b was empty, and is especially true among vertical portion 3-4 substantially at it, shown in Fig. 8 B.

Above-mentioned cleaning process with reference to Fig. 7 A description is very fast relatively, and therefore cleaning to be that 100m continues to carry out half an hour to 1 hour (h) to the pipe of 150m in length, yet the LNG that comprises in the pipe need be heated above 24h and become gaseous state.

Fig. 7 B and 7C illustrate the technology of cleaning

flexible pipe

3b, 3c more completely, wherein clean the first flexible pipe 3c by the gas that injects from gas recurrent canal 3a.For this reason, at valve 30ab, when 30bc closes, valve 30ac opens, shown in Fig. 7 B.When the nearly all LNG(of pipe among the 3c promptly, at least 85% LNG) when on FPSO, recovering, stop to clean.After this, valve 30ac closes, and valve 30ab opens, and has the effect of cleaning the second flexible pipe 3b in the same manner thus, recovers on FPSO up to the LNG of pipe at least 85% among 3b.At last, shown in Fig. 7 C, the injection direction of gas is reversed, and gas is directly injected two

flexible pipe

3b, 3c, and LNG returns via pipe 3a then.When the diameter of described gas recurrent canal 3a hour, this configuration has very big advantage.For two-phase mixture is risen in the vertical portion 3-4 of pipe 3a, required gas flow rate is significantly less than the above situation of describing with reference to Fig. 5 A among pipe 3b, the 3c, wherein carries the speed of LNG for optimization, and the diameter of two

flexible pipe

3b, 3c is identical usually.

For the vertical duct portion of rising with optimized mode emptying, the speed that makes purge gas greater than 1.5m/s, to be preferably more than 3m/s be suitable, more preferably greater than 5m/s.Therefore, consider that the diameter of pipe is little, obtain the required airflow rate of this speed, therefore the advantageous feature that has than the gas recurrent canal of minor diameter is shown by square the reducing of diameter ratio.

In order further to improve this stage of

scavenge pipe

3b, 3c, shown in Fig. 7 D, be favourable successively like that, so that come complete scavenge pipe 3c by cut-off valve 30ab, thereby finish to clean flexible pipe 3c, open identical valve 30ab in the time of then by cut-off valve 30ac, so that by gas injection tube 3c is finished to clean flexible pipe 3c, so that via the LNG that manages 3a emptying remnants.

Fig. 8 A is that flexible pipe 3b settles turntable to drop to the side view on sea level from it.Convex settles turntable 4-1b to have the convex frustum of a cone end face of angle for-α, this is favourable to the stage of cleaning flexible pipe, because in the description of the invention that reference Fig. 7 A provides, inject purge gas via this pipe, and because settle the taper of turntable, pipe emptying downwards naturally.

Fig. 8 B is that flexible pipe 3b settles turntable to drop to the side view on sea level from it.Spill settles turntable 4-1c to have the spill frustum of a cone end face of angle for+α, this is favourable to the stage of cleaning flexible pipe, because in the description of the invention that reference Fig. 7 A and 7B provide, two-phase mixture rises towards FPSO via this pipe, the cone shape of the arrangement turntable of being settled swivel joint 7 emptyings on the axle ZZ ' that is positioned at turntable naturally via pipe is spirally wound on the described circular cone turntable.This Fig. 8 B also illustrates the actual emptying of Guan Zaiqi horizontal part 3-5, and the minor diameter bubble appears in the two-phase mixture in cardinal principle cylindrical part 3-4 towards the bottom, and bubble diameter is along with mixture increases towards settling turntable to rise along pipe.

For height at 30m to the scope of 35m in for the 3-4 of pipe portion of (corresponding 1.5 cling to 2 pressure reduction that cling to), the diameter of the bubble of bottom is in 5mm arrives the scope of 10mm, and the bubble at top will have much bigger diameter because of pressure reduction, in several centimetres to several decimeters scope, therefore have the effect that reduces the density of two-phase mixture in the fluid volume thus, promote its carrying under one's arms and unloading at the horizontal plane place of turntable: this phenomenon is called as " gaslift ".

In the cleaning technique that reference Fig. 7 C and 7D describe, settle the turntable (Fig. 7 D) of gas recurrent canal (Fig. 7 C) 3a advantageously to be the spill circular cone type of angle for+α.

When the internal diameter of gas recurrent canal during less than the internal diameter of LNG pipe, preferred cleaning method comprises following two cleaning processs:

The first step by gas injection tube 3b is come scavenge pipe 3b, thereby is cleaned pipe 3b fully, simultaneously scavenge pipe 3c only partly supposition remaining LNG gas is arranged, describe among the part 3-4 of the pipe 3c when operating like that especially true with reference to Fig. 7 A at each valve.When the first step finished, pipe 3c still kept about 15% internal volume and is full of LNG;

Valve 30bc closes then, and valve 30ac opens; And

Second cleaning process is by setting each valve, carry out by discharging with gas injection tube 3c and via the gas recurrent canal 3a than minor diameter by the mode of describing with reference to Fig. 7 C.Because gas is via discharging than the pipe 3a of minor diameter, so required gas flow rate is significantly reduced among the pipe 3c,, greater than 1.5m/s, be preferably more than 3m/s corresponding to the speed of gas so that obtain the optimum speed of two-phase fluid, and more preferably greater than 5m/s.Because the cross section of pipe 3a is less,, but thus aspect the final percentage of the two-phase liquid that is cleaned and, greatly improved cleaning aspect total endurance so the conveying of liquid is carried out slowlyer.

After three

pipes

3a, 3b and 3c are cleaned, they are wrapped on its corresponding turntable again, come on the horizontal plane up to the described first connection device 13-1, more specifically be positioned at substantially under the nethermost turntable of the flexible pipe that is kept together by equipment 13-1, therefore shown in Fig. 1 D, the first connection device 13-1 can for good and all remain connected to the described pipe 3a, the 3b that are linked together by the described first equipment 13-1 and the described second end 3-6 of 3c.

As example, conveying equipment of the present invention comprises:

Two LNG flexible pipes, internal diameter are that 500mm, external diameter are 900mm, and each pipe range 216m also is made up of the segmentation of 18 identical long 12m that fitted together by flange, and it is every meter heavy 300kg(kg/m when vacant);

Flexible gas recurrent canal, internal diameter is that 250mm, external diameter are 400mm, and pipe range 216m also is made up of the segmentation of 18 identical long 12m that fitted together by flange, and it is weight 125kg/m when vacant;

Connect valve device 13, be equipped with ball valve 22, it has the internal diameter of the 500mm that is used for LNG and is used for the internal diameter of the 250mm that gas returns, and valve 30ab-30ac-30bc is that the diameter of flowing through is the butterfly valve of 250mm, heavily about 20(meter) ton (t); And

Three motor-driven arrangement turntables 4, external diameter is 23m, and the diameter of cylinder is 5m, and three groove diameters are the motor-driven pulley of 5m, and their supporting structure, the heavily about 1000t of whole assembly.

The process of scavenge pipe is carried out under the gas velocity of 4m/s, under this condition, the total duration that takies is that 30 minutes (min) is to 45min, so that obtain total remaining LNG less than 1% of the total volume of pipe, this represents the remaining LNG of about 425 liters (L), so these remaining LNG produce 250 cubic metres of (m ³) gaseous methane, therefore these gaseous methane are finally liquefied on FPSO again.

Claims

1. one kind with ground connection or unsteady mode (1-2,1-1) afloat support (1) is installed, be equipped with on the surface of described support and be used for settling and guiding flexible pipe (3, arrangement 3a-3b-3c) and guiding device (4), described arrangement and guiding device are fit to settle and guide a plurality of described flexible pipes, be preferably at least three in the described flexible pipe, described support is characterised in that described arrangement and guiding device comprise:

First bearing structure (5), be placed in or be fixed to described support (1) close described support (1) side (1d), preferably near the deck (1c) of vertical end wall of described support, described first bearing structure (5) supports one and is positioned at a plurality of round turntables (4-1) of arranging on another;

Each described turntable (4-1,4a, 4b, 4c) be fit to be driven in mode by first motor (6) independently of each other and rotate around vertical central shaft ZZ ' with powered, preferably around identical vertical central shaft ZZ ' rotation, each turntable has the center port (4-2) that is covered with center drum (4-3) on the top, and described flexible pipe (3,3a, 3b, 3c) can be against also being wound in the concentric juxtaposed spiral ring that the diameter on the end face (4-1a) that is placed in described turntable increases gradually around described center drum, the described center port (4-2) of described turntable is equipped with rotation universal shaft coupling (7), described rotation universal shaft coupling is fit to set up between the end of fixed delivery pipe (8) (8-1) at first end (3-1) earlier connect again, the most approaching described center drum that centers on the flexible pipe of described flexible cylinder winding of described first end, the end of described first pipe (3-1) is fit to be driven and to rotate with described turntable, and at least one interior first jar (11) of the other end of described fixed delivery pipe (8) and described support (1) are communicated with; And

A plurality of guiding devices (10,10a, 10b, 10c), each described guiding device be fit to described pipe leave a corresponding turntable in each described turntable, with continuous that part of (3-2) channeling conduct of pipe portion that is wrapped on the described turntable, the feasible part (3-2) of leaving each described pipe of each turntable is arranged to straight line, along the substantially horizontal Y that is parallel to described side ₁Y ' ₁Depart from diverse location, be positioned at different heights, and (P1, P2 is P3) with respect to the described substantially horizontal Y that is parallel to described side (1d) can to make their vertical axis plane ₁Y ₁' the different orientation (α 1, and α 2, and α 3) of employing.

2. support according to claim 1 (1), it is characterized in that, at least one described flexible pipe (3) is against the concentric juxtaposed spiral ring that also is wound in the diameter increase that is placed on the described turntable (4-1) around described center drum (4-2), the radius of described center drum is greater than the minimum profile curvature radius of described flexible pipe, preferably at least three flexible pipes are wrapped in respectively at least three described turntables, comprising the flexible pipe of at least one diameter less than the diameter of other flexible pipe.

3. support according to claim 1 and 2 (1), it is characterized in that, each guiding device is set at the different heights place of the corresponding turntable in each described turntable, so that be fit to support the downstream portion (3-4) of the described pipe that is positioned at the other cardinal principle vertical position in described side (1d) and leave bent intermediate pipe portion (3-3) between the continuous described upstream tube portion (3-2) of pipe portion described turntable and that be placed in the winding on the described turntable, the described upstream tube portion (3-2) of leaving described turntable extends on imaginary plane P, the surperficial general tangential of described virtual plane and the end face (4-1a) of the described turntable that twines by the pipe portion of described winding, the position that each downstream tube portion (4-4) of the cardinal principle vertical position that described side is other is set up along with the described direction Y of the described parallel sided of leaving described pulley ₂Y ₂' relative to each other depart from.

4. support according to claim 3 is characterized in that, each described guiding device (10) comprises pulley (10-1), and described pulley is mounted to the first rotating shaft Y around level ₁Y ₁' rotation, described pulley also is fit to center on the vertical second rotating shaft Z that extends along the diameter of described pulley ₁Z ' ₁Rotate, preferably freely rotate, preferably be subjected to the control of second motor (10-6) and rotate around each described pulley of described first rotating shaft rotation, preferably be subjected to synchronously controlling with described first motor (6) of each described first turntable (4-1) and rotating.

5. support according to claim 4 (1) is characterized in that, (10a, 10b 10c) are arranged at different heights along the described substantially horizontal Y that is parallel to described side each pulley ₁Y ' ₁Depart from side by side relative to each other, the top of each pulley preferably is oriented to substantially with the same high with the tangent plane P of the end face (4-1a) of described turntable (4-1).

6. support according to claim 5 (1) is characterized in that, each pulley is supported by second bearing structure (10-2), and described second bearing structure is arranged on the described floating bracket outside and is being parallel to the described substantially horizontal Y of described side ₁Y ₁' the diverse location place be fastened to common side (1d), each pulley is mounted to that (10-4 is 10-5) around the described vertical second rotating shaft Z with respect to the part of described second bearing structure that is fastened to described side (1d) ₁Z ' ₁Rotation.

7. according to each described support (1) in the claim 1 to 6, it is characterized in that, each described turntable (4-1) its lower surface comprise wheel (4-5) or with the wheel (4-5) cooperate, the described wheel is fit to cooperate with the element (5a) of described bearing structure or supported by element (5a) respectively, and each described turntable is included in the bearing (4-4) at described center port place, and described bearing is fixed to described bearing structure (5) and is fit to make described turntable to rotate with respect to described first bearing structure (5).

8. according to each described support (1) in the claim 1 to 7, it is characterized in that at least one described turntable (4-1d) has the end face (4-1a) that is horizontal plane.

9. according to each described support (1) in the claim 1 to 7, it is characterized in that, the end face that at least one described turntable (4-1c) has the spill frusto-conical, wherein the angle γ at place, summit is preferably in 160 ° to 178 ° scope.

10. according to each described support (1) in the claim 1 to 7, it is characterized in that at least one described turntable (4-1b) has the end face (4-1a) of convex frusto-conical, wherein the angle γ at place, summit is preferably in 160 ° to 178 ° scope.

11. according to each described support (1) in the claim 1 to 10, it is characterized in that, described support is equipped with a plurality of, n flexible pipe (3a, 3b, 3c), described first end (3-1) of each flexible pipe is cooperated with corresponding described turntable, second end (3-6) of described flexible pipe connects valve device (13-1) by first and links together, and described first connects first pipe portion (21a, the 21b that valve device has n preferred rigidity, 21c), the described first pipe portion relative to each other preferably remains on parallel fixed position, and n is not less than 3 integer, each described first (21a of pipe portion, 21b 21c) comprising:

Be positioned at first end first the pipe linkage member (23-1a, 23-1b 23-1c), are preferably the protuberance or the recess of automatic coupler;

Be positioned at second linkage member of second end, be preferably flange, be assembled into second end (3-6) of described flexible pipe;

(21a, 21b comprise n-1 branch's joint (30) between two ends 21c) in each described first pipe portion, make its can with the described first pipe portion of n-1 other rigidity in corresponding one be communicated with, each described branch joint (30) comprise first connecting valve (30ab, 30bc, 30ac);

First connect valve (22a, 22b, 22c), be positioned at described first linkage member (23-1a, 23-1b is 23-1c) and between the described branch joint (30);

The described first pipe portion is fixed to first rigid support (24), preferably by the described first rigid support keeping parallelism; And

(30ab, 30bc 30ac) are preferably butterfly valve to described first connecting valve, and described first connects valve, and (22a, 22b 22c) are preferably ball valve.

12. support according to claim 11 (1), it is characterized in that, described flexible pipe is at described support (1) and be preferably methane oil tanker type also in the face of described side (1d) and described support (1,1-1,1-2) side by side or extend between the ship (2) arranged of lap siding or be adapted at extending between them, and described first connect valve device (13-1) and be connected to be provided with or to be fit to be arranged on second on the ship (2) that is preferably methane oil tanker type and connect valve device (13-2), and described second connects valve device (13-2) comprising:

The second pipe portion of n preferred rigidity (26a, 26b, 26c);

Each described second (26a of pipe portion, 26b, end 26c) is communicated with described second jar (12), and its other end comprises the first complementary pipe linkage member (23-2a, 23-2b, 23-2c), the described first complementary linkage member is adapted in the reversible coupling and described first linkage member (23-1a, 23-1b, 23-1c) cooperation, the described first complementary linkage member preferably be respectively convex or spill automatic coupler portion (23-2a, 23-2b, 23-2c);

(26a, 26b 26c) remain on the fixed position of preferred parallel relative to each other, and (23-2c) (23-1a, 23-1b 23-1c) connect with described first linkage member for 23-2a, 23-2b so that make the described first complementary linkage member in the described second pipe portion;

Each described second (26a of pipe portion, 26b, 26c) have second and connect valve (27a, 27b, 27c), described second allow when connecting valve and being adapted at opening or closing respectively or prevent that fluid from flowing to the described first complementary linkage member or flow out from the described first complementary linkage member in the described second pipe portion;

The described second pipe portion is fixed to second rigid support (25), and preferably remains parallel to each other by described second rigid support; And

Described second connects valve, and (27a, 27b 27c) are preferably ball valve.

13. the method for delivering liquid or gaseous state petroleum fluids, wherein said petroleum fluids via according to each described support (1) in the claim 1 to 12 and be preferably methane oil tanker type and towards described side (1d) side by side or at least two flexible pipes (3) that extend between the ship (2) arranged of lap siding carry, preferably via at least three flexible pipe (3a, 3b, 3c) carry, described flexible pipe (3) guides by described arrangement and guiding device (4).

14. method according to claim 13 is characterized in that, described flexible pipe is the flexible pipe that floats, swim in described support (1) with the described ship (2) that is preferably methane oil tanker type between a part apart from the surface of (3-5).

15. according to claim 13 or 14 described methods, it is characterized in that, use at least one flexible pipe, " first " flexible pipe, at least two flexible pipes of preferred use, " first " flexible pipe (3b) and " second " flexible pipe (3c), in described flexible pipe, liquid gas is at described floating bracket and be preferably between at least one second jar (12) of described ship (2) of methane oil tanker type and be transferred, and use the 3rd flexible pipe (3a), the diameter of described the 3rd flexible pipe is preferably less than the diameter of described first flexible pipe and described second flexible pipe, in described the 3rd flexible pipe, be transported in the described floating bracket first jar from described second jar (12) corresponding to the gas of described second jar top gas, or be transported to liquefaction unit (1b) on the described support before being transported to described first jar (11).

16. according to each described method in the claim 13 to 15, it is characterized in that, described flexible pipe is equipped with the first connection valve device (13-1) as limiting in the claim 11, and described first connect valve device and be connected to as second connecting valve device (13-2) as described in limiting in the claim 12, described flexible pipe is preferably unsteady flexible pipe, and be used for from described support (1) to the described unsteady flexible pipe of described ship (2) the delivering liquid natural-gas LNG that is preferably methane oil tanker type (3b 3c) is cleaned by carrying out following consecutive steps:

A. close described first and connect valve (22a-22b-22c) and be connected valve (27a-27b-27c), and make the described first connection valve device (13-1) be connected valve device (13-2) with described second to break away from connection each other with described second;

B. from first end (3-1) injecting gas of described support (1) to first flexible pipe (3b), and open and be assembled into identical described first and connect described first flexible pipe (3b) of valve device (13-1) and at least one described first connecting valve (30bc) between second flexible pipe (3c), (30ac 30ab) closes other described first connecting valve; Then

C. when described first the pipe (3b) fully emptying, when preferred general is emptied completely, close described first connecting valve (30bc) between described first flexible pipe (3b) and described second flexible pipe (3c).

17. method according to claim 16 is characterized in that, after step c), described second pipe (3c) is cleaned fully by carrying out following consecutive steps:

D. gas injects described first end (3-1) of described second pipe (3c) from described support (1), and open and be positioned at described second pipe (3c) and the diameter less than described first connecting valve (30ac) between the 3rd flexible pipe (3a) of described second pipe, make purge gas flow velocity, be that the speed of described gas is greater than 1.5 metre per second (m/s)s (m/s), be preferably more than 3m/s, more preferably greater than 5m/s, (30ab 30bc) closes described other first connecting valve; And

E. when described second fully emptying of pipe (3c), when more preferably being emptied completely substantially, closing and be positioned at described second pipe (3c) and the described the 3rd described first connecting valve (30ac) of managing between (3a).

18. according to claim 16 or 17 described methods, it is characterized in that, when all described turntables are fully cleaned, described flexible pipe is by on the described turntable that rewinds to them, second end (3-6) up to all described flexible pipes all is positioned on the water surface, preferred described first connect valve device (13-1) be arranged in the nethermost described turntable of cooperating with a flexible pipe of described flexible pipe under.

19. method according to claim 18 is characterized in that, described first pipe (3b) be wrapped in limit as claim 9 as described on the convex turntable.

20. according to claim 18 or 19 described methods, it is characterized in that, be used for carrying described second flexible pipe (3c) of liquid and the 3rd flexible pipe (3a) at least one, be preferred for carrying liquid described second pipe (3c) and the 3rd pipe (3a) both be wrapped in the spill that limits as claim 10 as described in the conical butt turntable.